Abuse of an Older Adult
R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-66-8 — abuse, neglect, exploitation or self neglect of anyone sixty or older, reported immediately
Any person. Anyone with reasonable cause to believe a person sixty years of age or older has been abused, neglected or exploited, or is self neglecting, reports it immediately to the director of the office of healthy aging.
That applies wherever the older person lives. The office may then notify law enforcement where appropriate.
Physicians, nurses, aides, police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, social workers, pharmacists and many other professionals are named in the section as having the same duty.
A particular situation is a question for the office of healthy aging or a licensed Rhode Island attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-66-8 — Abuse, neglect, exploitation, and self-neglect of elderly persons; Duty to report
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Rhode Island attorney.